The modernisation work that would be taken up include Penna, Tungabhadra, Nagarjunasagar and Nizamsagar, he said after opening the shutters of Prakasam Barrage here to release water for irrigation in Krishna delta region for kharif season.

The release of water would help irrigate 13 lakh acres of agriculture land in the delta region, he said, adding the Congress government in the state had done everything possible for the welfare of farmers during the last four years by timely releasing water through channel-based 'Jalayagnam' irrigation programme.

The Minister said the government had taken up construction of 72 irrigation projects under Jalayagnam of which 12 have been completed and remaining were in progress.

He said the allegations of corruption and irregularities in the ongoing Jalayagnam work by the Opposition was only to gain 'political mileage.'